More vegans in the UK than members of the Labour or Conservative parties, research finds

Ross Robertson

There are now half a million vegans in the UK, according to figures revealing a 360% increase in the number of people ditching meat, fish, eggs and dairy products.

The number of vegans in Britain has leapt from 150,000 in 2006 to 542,000 in 2016, making it one of the country's fastest-growing lifestyle movements.

The figures mean there are now more vegans in the country than members of the Labour Party (about 380,000), Conservative Party (about 150,000), Sikhs (432,000) or Buddhists (178,000).

The news comes just days after the North East held two successful vegan festivals: the North East Vegan Festival (Nevfest) saw thousands descend on the Sunderland's Stadium of Light at the weekend, and the smaller Newcastle Vegan Festival proving a a similar success.

Jasmijn de Boo, chief executive of The Vegan Society. said: "To have over half a million vegans in Britain is fantastic.

"More people than ever before are acting upon the health and environmental benefits of veganism, and finding out what really goes on in the meat and dairy industries and deciding they do not want to contribute to the pain and suffering of animals,”

The study, carried out by leading researchers Ipsos MORI, surveyed almost 10,000 people aged 15 or over across England, Scotland and Wales, and found 1.05% of over-15s now followed a vegan diet.

The project also found nearly half of vegetarians who are not vegan said they would like to reduce their consumption of dietary animal products. This equates to 521,000 people across Britain, meaning there could soon be in excess of one million vegans in total.

Ms de Boo said the movement is being driven by young people making more ethical and compassionate choices, with close to half of all vegans are in the 15-34 age category (42%) compared to just 14% who are over 65. She said this also pointed to even greater growth in the future.

Veggie might

The study also found that 3.25% of the population, around 1.68million people, are either vegetarian or vegan. More than 860,000 of all vegetarians and vegans also avoid all non-dietary animal products such as leather and wool.

The vast majority of vegans live in urban or suburban areas (88%) compared with rural areas (12%) and this is reflected in London, where 22% of all vegans in Britain live – more than any other region.

Vegan Life magazine publishing director Keith Coomber said: “The public perception of veganism is changing fast. It’s no longer an extreme lifestyle, it’s easy and accessible - you can walk into any supermarket and be greeted by a huge range of dairy-free milks and many more other vegan-friendly products.

“As consumers become more savvy about the reality of the farming industry, and the health implications of meat and dairy products, this boom will only continue.”

Ms De Boo added: “The reasons behind the rise of veganism are numerous: the positive portrayal in the media has contributed to its changing image; documentaries on the shocking realities and consequences of animal agriculture have gained prominence; delicious-looking vegan recipes have multiplied online and on social media as society becomes increasingly health-conscious; and top vegan athletes keep proving that you can be fit and healthy on a plant-based diet.

“Going vegan is the best thing any individual can do for the animals, the planet and your health. What are you waiting for?”

*There are 51 million people in England, Scotland and Wales aged 15 and over.

You can try going vegan with the 30 Day Vegan Pledge. Sign up for free here and receive daily emails of advice, info and lots of great recipes.